I know this is not an Alzheimer's forum but I've often thought my PN was an auto-immune disorder. There are lots of signs in our family including Rhematoid arthritis. So when I read this, I thought, "I wonder if this might help PN?" (even if there wasn't auto-immune problems in my family, this seems like such a miracle, I probably would still wonder if it would help me, LOL)

It is an anecdotal story, just one patient:

Researchers at the Donald W. Reynolds Institute on Aging at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) gave an Alzheimer's patient an injection of a compound called perispinal etanercept and noticed a "dramatic and unprecedented therapeutic effect" within minutes of the injection.

“It is unprecedented that we can see cognitive and behavioral improvement in a patient with established dementia within minutes of therapeutic intervention,” said [Sue Griffin, Ph.D., director of research at the Donald W. Reynolds Institute on Aging at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS)]. “It is imperative that the medical and scientific communities immediately undertake to further investigate and characterize the physiologic mechanisms involved. This gives all of us in Alzheimer’s research a tremendous new clue about new avenues of research, which is so exciting and so needed in the field of Alzheimer’s. Even though this report predominantly discusses a single patient, it is of significant scientific interest because of the potential insight it may give into the processes involved in the brain dysfunction of Alzheimer’s.”

More details about drug at:
http://www.jneuroinflammation.com/content/5/1/2

I saw this too, this sounds promising for Alzheimers.

As far as PN, I imagine it depends on the source of your PN....

After a little research and a few more guinea pigs....I would put myself on the list.....t'aint much more they are doin' for me.....

One would think this kind of discovery would be all over the television, in the newspapers, on 60 minutes, I MEAN ALL OVER THE PLACE.

If I had a family member with Alzheimers, I would be at the doctor's door in a heartbeat.

So why isn't this happening?? Can you imagine the amount of people this compound would help.

Reminds me of the film Awakenings with Robin Williams, when all the people had Parkinson and they were frozen in their chairs, and I think he shot them full of LDopa, and they WOKE UP. Most amazing film I ever saw.


My Aunt Marion was in the nursing home with Dementia. I went to see her. I will never forget this formerly beautiful woman who used to dance on the stage and she was in stage productions in her earlier years and even when she was 50 and 60, she could stop traffic she was so beautiful, and there she was, sitting in a wheelchair, biting her sleeves.

My uncle and I had brought photos to "stimulate" her brain.

She looked at me, thought I was my mother. She looked at a photo of my father (who was so handsome he looked exactly like Charles Farrell of My Little Margie, tv show of 50 years ago).

When my Aunt saw the photo of my father, she jumped up off the chair and said "Oh my god, isn't he gorgeous."

Then she just receded into her mind again.

Insidious disease, this Alzheimers. I, for one, hope that someone takes the ball with this and runs with it.

Melody

I saw it on CNN. I am sure it has to go thru more clinical trials, but if it works for a number of people with NO downside or minimal downside, they may FAST TRACK it.

Sometimes they come out with things and results appear fabulous, but later, there are problems or adverse reactions....and law suits.

So, I am sure they are studying this like crazy. It has great potential if it holds true, it is wonderful news.

Amyloid is not usually the factor in PN, most PN that is. I don't know if this just targets the amyloid plaques involved in Alzheimers or if it works on all amyloid accumulation. I think for inflammatory PN it could be a track to pursue....and I think they will likely do studies on even 'idiopathic axonal neuropathy' just to see if there is any improvement at some point in time.

I wonder if they are pondering it for other amyloid conditions...such as the amyloidosis group of disease.

Any breakthrus in neuro care have implications for other area. Parkinson's research has been critical to many other diseases, as have other neuro research initiatives.

I am very happy to hear this news, as we have Alzheimers in my family.

I have given up more of my tissue to be tested that there isn't much left but bone to fork out....and I keep getting, no inflammation, no amyloid. Oh well.

I think we will hear more of this breakthru and soon.

BTW you are going to see more and more typos on my posts, I do apologize, I simply will time out and I get tired of editing.....yes, I am aware of misspelling and dropped letters, please bear with...brain is still fine....fingers are not.

and I have to wonder.

While it looks promising, I have doubts. We don't really know what other
things TNF does in the brain/body.

This experiment is based on the data that potent NSAIDs like Indocin retard
Alzheimer's progression. But these factors also perform other functions in the body and altering them is not understood yet well at this time.

Remicade was always a less popular drug for RA..because it required IV infusions.
I would like to see other data, before getting excited about this one. Sorry.

For information only as I have a friend with RA. I find it scary.
http://www.bad.org.uk/public/leaflets/etanercept.asp

Tony

This drug isn't new to me. It was the first TNf blocker they put me on for the Rheumatoid. I now have to take one of the sister drugs, Humira. I take it and methotrexate. It is the only thing that has controlled my RA since the knee surgery.

I wonder if this means I won't be having Alzheimer's??

I don't have it in my family. At least not the ones that are living.

Interesting article. But I wonder why the news hasn't snatched it up.

Billye